As an affiliate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. We get commissions for purchases made through links on this website from Amazon and other third parties.
Smartwatches have gained significant popularity across various domains of life. Their wide array of features makes them ideal gadgets for outdoor enthusiasts, including those who are into cycling and mountain biking.
The latest smartwatches are equipped with dedicated cycling modes specifically designed to track and enhance your outdoor biking performance. These watches offer features that cater to the unique needs of mountain bikers.
To help you make an informed decision, we have rigorously tested and reviewed over 5 smartwatches that are suitable for mountain biking. These watches not only provide built-in GPS support for accurate navigation and route tracking but also offer a range of health features tailored for cyclists.
| Image | Product Name | Editor's Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Check Price | |
 | Apple Watch Series 7 | Check Price | |
 | SUUNTO 9 Peak | Check Price | |
 | Polar Vantage V2 | Check Price | |
 | POLAR M430 | Check Price |
Best Smartwatch For Mountain Biking Reviews
1. Garmin Forerunner 945
The Forerunner 945 is a premium smartwatch that offers an extensive range of outdoor features and advanced sports profiles.
Specifically tailored for pro mountain bikers, this smartwatch comes with built-in MTB and cycling modes, allowing you to track your rides with greater detail. Compared to its predecessor, the Forerunner 945 boasts additional features such as blood oxygen level monitoring and advanced GPS technology.
The watch also includes NFC payments, enabling convenient contactless transactions while you’re on the move. Battery life performance has been improved as well, with the Forerunner 945 offering up to two weeks of battery life in smartwatch mode and 36 hours in GPS mode.
Recognizing that mountain biking is an aerobic activity that burns calories, the Forerunner 945 incorporates aerobic performance tracking. It monitors your VO2 max, average heart rate, calories burned, distance covered, speed, pace, and provides insightful data during outdoor activities.
Thanks to its Multi-GNSS support, the watch excels in tracking even in challenging environments, accompanied by full-color mapping. For mountain bikers, the Forerunner 945 also includes round-trip routing, helping you find the best routes that lead you back to your starting point.
Lastly, this smartwatch features a barometer and altimeter to measure environmental conditions and provide weather information. With its durable design, the Forerunner 945 is an ideal companion for outdoor use.
Pros
– Pulse oximetry
– Enhanced outdoor features
– Music syncing capability
– Excellent battery life
– Accurate GPS
– Compatible with Strava and Cyclemeter
Cons
– Expensive
– Lacks a temperature sensor
2. Apple Watch Series 7
If you’re a fan of Apple Watches, the Apple Watch 7 should be your top choice. Packed with numerous features for outdoor sports and activities, this watch offers a great experience.
Compared to its predecessor, the Apple Watch 6, the Apple Watch 7 features a larger 1.7″ display, making it easier to view your performance metrics at a glance.
Like other models, the Apple Watch 7 includes a cycling mode specifically tailored for tracking metrics relevant to your mountain biking activities. It can monitor your speed, pace, altitude, distance, and other physical metrics. The accuracy of the Apple Watch 7 is unparalleled, and it can automatically track your cycling and other outdoor sports. The iOS app provides a detailed analysis of your physical activities and training sessions.
The Apple Watch 7 also comes equipped with an improved GPS, allowing you to set your desired distance before starting your mountain biking session. This feature aids in navigation and routing without the need for smartphone connectivity, eliminating the need to carry your smartphone while cycling.
One of the core fitness features of the Apple Watch 7 is the advanced SpO2 sensor, which measures your blood oxygen saturation level, providing insights into your overall wellness. Additionally, the onboard ECG app allows you to measure atrial fibrillation indication right from your wrist.
While the battery performance of the Apple Watch 7 is similar to its predecessor, providing up to 18 hours of battery life in smartwatch mode, it does offer fast charging support. With fast charging, the watch can be charged from 0% to 100% in just 2.5 hours.
However, if you engage in more strenuous outdoor activities or intense training, it’s worth noting that the Apple Watch 7 may not be as durable as Garmin watches.
Pros
– Larger display
– QWERTY keyboard
– Fast charging
– Brighter display
– Improved ECG app
– Accurate health tracking
Cons
– Battery life could be improved
– Only two new watch faces
3. SUUNTO 9 Peak
The Suunto 9 Peak is a flagship smartwatch featuring Sapphire Glass and grade 5 Titanium bezels. With its 100-meter water resistance, it is perfect for water activities.
The watch boasts an award-winning Nordic design that fits comfortably on every wrist. Its thin and lightweight construction enhances the overall wearing experience.
The Suunto 9 Peak offers exclusive features tailored for outdoor sports. When it comes to cycling or mountain biking, it includes Accent acclimation, which allows cyclists to gauge their body’s adaptiveness to weather and altitude.
Additionally, the watch can track average bike speed, Bike POD, Bike Lap, Interval guidance, Bike power meter support, and more. With over 80+ sports modes, the Suunto 9 Peak can measure your performance in any activity.
The Suunto 9 Peak includes essential features such as training recovery, training load, real-time heart rate monitoring, interval training, calorie burn tracking, and more. It also comes with onboard GPS for improved navigation, eliminating the need for additional GPS devices.
With seven days of battery backup for 24/7 tracking and up to 25 hours in GPS mode, the Suunto 9 Peak offers reliable battery life. Additionally, it includes ABC sensors to measure weather conditions, direction, and altitudes.
Pros
– Thin and lightweight design
– Durable construction
– Wide range of sports modes
– Exclusive running features
– 100-meter water resistance
Cons
– Expensive
– No music storage
4. Polar Vantage V2
Polar smartwatches are a compelling alternative to Garmin watches, and the new Polar Vantage V2 offers comprehensive insights into your outdoor activities. With over 130 sports modes, you can track a wide range of training and outdoor activities.
The Vantage V2 has a sleek and lightweight design, yet it remains durable. The aerospace aluminum alloy bezel and fiber-reinforced polymer glass contribute to its robustness. It is also water-resistant up to 100 meters, making it suitable for swimming and bathing.
Equipped with GPS and multiple satellite systems including GLONASS, GALILEO, and QZSS, the Vantage V2 offers accurate and rapid routing. You can sync your routes for real-time and turn-by-turn guidance. The new elevation feature allows cyclists to measure slope angles and elevations of their routes.
The watch includes Training Load Pro, which assesses physical strength, strain, tolerance, and the ability to handle more workouts, making it ideal for professional trainers. Additional features include Recovery Pro, Energy Source, real-time heart rate monitoring, and advanced sleep tracking.
With the Vantage V2, you can set goals to improve your performance day by day. The performant tests enable you to track your cycling, running, or any activity and personalize your heart rate, speed, and power zones.
The Vantage V2 offers a 346mAh battery that lasts for 7 days in smartwatch mode and 40 hours in GPS mode, ensuring extended activity tracking. It also features an ABC sensor to measure weather conditions 24/7.
Pros
– Sporty appearance
– Lightweight and durable
– Wide range of sports modes
– Advanced running and cycling features
– Polar Flow app is excellent
Cons
– No music storage
– Expensive
5. POLAR M430
The Polar M430 is more than just a smartwatch, offering a larger display for easy readability of your stats during activities. The high-resolution 128 x 128 px display ensures bright visibility even under direct sunlight.
With essential features like heart rate tracking, smart calories, training load, and sleep tracking, the M430 covers all the basics. It also provides premium features such as a running index, various running programs, an activity guide, and more, specifically designed for running and cycling.
The fitness tracker is compatible with popular third-party apps like Strava, Training Peaks, and MyFitnessPal, allowing you to track your cycling and mountain biking comprehensively.
The new Polar Flow app enables you to plan your training, from single workouts to full-season plans. The M430 provides feedback on your daily, weekly, and monthly activities, helping you improve your performance quickly. Additionally, you receive feedback after each training session to keep you motivated.
With onboard GPS, the M430 allows for route planning and easy map viewing on its large screen. The watch boasts a powerful battery life, lasting up to 20 days in regular use and up to 8 hours in GPS mode.
Pros
– Large display for easy readability
– Support for third-party apps
– Built-in GPS
– Long battery life
– Data sharing via the Polar Flow app
Cons
– Sleep tracking performance could be improved
– Monochrome display
Final Word
Having a smartwatch specifically designed for mountain biking can greatly enhance your riding experience by providing valuable performance metrics. With features such as speed tracking, distance measurement, navigation, altitude monitoring, and time-lapse recording, these watches offer comprehensive data for your mountain biking adventures.
Among the watches mentioned above, Garmin stands out as the top choice for cycling and mountain biking. Garmin watches are known for their long-lasting battery life and accurate GPS tracking, which are essential for outdoor activities.
We hope that this article has assisted you in selecting the best smartwatch for your mountain biking needs. If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask in the comment section.